He nodded. “Yu…yu.”
“Well done. Nearly there. Yes. Yes.”
River didn’t try to say it.
“Let me see if I can find somewhere before we set off.” Newt checked his phone. “Do you want to come in with me? You can put on your own salt and vinegar. Oh, there’s a chip shop near here and we can eat on the promenade.”
A couple of miles away, Newt parallel parked on the road that ran at the back of the concrete walkway protecting the village from the sea. River wished he’d been able to tell him how impressed he was with his manoeuvring, though Newt seemed impressed enough himself. River didn’t like parallel parking.
The chip shop was less than twenty metres away. There was a short queue and River immediately felt vulnerable. He was shocked how nervous he felt to be near people. But everyone was wrapped up against the cold weather and even with a scarf covering most of his face, he didn’t look out of place.
“Fish and chips, and a portion of chips, please,” Newt said to the guy behind the counter. “And two bottles of water.”
When the food had been put into the boxes, they helped themselves to salt and vinegar, then another guy wrapped everything up for them and handed over a plastic bag.
“Thanks,” Newt said and turned to River. “My mouth is already watering.”
So was River’s. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had fish and chips from a chip shop. Several years ago. They made their way to the promenade, which was empty of people, and found a covered shelter to sit in. Newt handed River his box of food along with a wooden fork. River awkwardly cut the fish in half and held the container out to Newt.
“You want me to have half?”
River nodded.
“Thanks.”
Yet again, Newt wolfed his meal.Or is it that I’m slow?Everything was steamy hot and it tasted great. The fish was moist and flaky and River shocked himself by eating every last scrap. It was a simple pleasure, sitting outside, looking at the wild sea, eating fish and chips, and for a little while, River felt content. He wished he could talk to Newt, ask him about what he did before this, where he’d lived, about his family, what he liked, what he didn’t like.
One day, maybe, if Newt lasted that long.
River spent most of the return journey dozing and when he wasn’t dozing, he pretended he was. Newt was a safe, careful driver. More careful than River was…had been. He wasn’t going to addwould bebecause when he drove again, he was going to be more careful. He was lucky to be alive. He wouldn’t tempt fate again.
Newt parked in the garage. River grabbed his arm when he was about to open the door without turning off the alarm. River pointed to it.
“I forgot. Thanks.”
Newt switched on the lights in the boot room. River struggled out of his coat and hung it up, pleased when Newt didn’t try to help him. But when he battled with his trainers, he let Newt take them off his feet. Newt left their sandy footwear on the mat.
“Is there anything I can do for you? Or get for you?” Newt asked as they left the room. “I know jack shit about physio but if there are exercises you need to do, I might be able to help. Or a swim maybe? That walk was probably the most you’ve done for a while, right?”
River wasn’t sure he had the energy to manage a swim. He shook his head.
“Like a hot drink? Tea? Coffee?”
He nodded to coffee.
Newt hadn’t annoyed him anywhere near as much as anyone else who’d been employed to help him. He’d not pushed or nagged or cajoled for a start. Not talked non-stop. He’d taken him out. It had felt so good to stand, then sit and look at the waves. It made him feel alive.
“Ger… Ger…” He was trying to saygood.Not a word he was used to having in his head. Nothing was fucking good. He gave up.
Newt made them both coffee and brought them to where River was sitting. “Want to try to say your name? We’ll do it in two parts. Riv… Riv.”
River took a deep breath. He’d watched Newt’s mouth. “Criv…”
“Not your throat. The front of your mouth. Riv. Riv.”
“Rif. Rif. Riv. Riv.” River could hear that was right.
“Yes! Now the last bit. Ur. Ur. Like you’re clearing your throat. Riv…ur.”
